NHRA's Last Season With ESPN Sees Elimination Viewership Drop 10% From '14

The NHRA Mello Yello Series finished its last season on ESPN/ESPN2 with an average of 513,000 viewers for elimination shows, which aired primarily on Sunday afternoon/evenings. One telecast each season airs on Labor Day. The 513,000 viewers is down 10% from 569,000 viewers last season and down 2% from 524,000 in ’13 (just ESPN2). ESPN alone this season had four NHRA elimination telecasts, averaging 680,000 viewers, down from 779,000 last year for three telecasts. ESPN2 had 20 events this season, averaging 481,000 viewers, which is down from 536,000 last season (22 telecasts). Five of the NHRA telecasts this season were live, compared to three last season and only one in ’13. Next season, the series moves to Fox Sports, which plans 17 live events, including four on the Fox broadcast net, with the remainder on FS1. Many FS1 races next season also will get the added benefit of airing right after NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.